Improvement in school-desks and seats



, A. 'M. BODWELL. V I

Improvement in School Desks and Seats.

No. 118,187, Patented Aug. 22, 187k 7? Ex! I \xxuammy;

% W%%M q" I 3 M UNrrEn ALRIOK M. BODWELL, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN SCHOOL-DESKS AND SEATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,187, dated August 22, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALRIGK M. BODWELL, of Ann Arbor, in the county of Vashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new'and useful Improvement in School-Seats and Desks; and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accom ianying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved desk and seat, the latter being folded up. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the seat down ready for occupation. Fig. 3 is a section of a portion of the seat-bracket, showing the method of securing the cushion in its socket; and Fig. at is a front elevation of one standard with its bracket and seat-brace raised.

Similar letters of reference ii idicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The nature of this invention relates to an improvement in that class of school-seats which is provided with folding or turn-up seats, whereby greater strength is secured to the seat-supports, and which are also noiseless in operation. The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the seat-supports with relation to the standards and seat-brackets, and in the peculiar method of securing the rubber stops or cushions in the seat-brackets, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents the cast-iron standard at each end or side of the desk, to the tops of which standards the desk proper, I is secured, and to the upper part of the front of said standards a board, 0, or a series of slats, to form a back for the scholar sitting in front. Each standard is cast with a shorter limb, A, in the front part, to the top of which a bracket, 1), is hinged at a. To these brackets the seat E is secured. b is a lug projecting from the front rib of the shorter standards A to which the lower end of a seat-support or brace, F, is hinged, as seen at c. To the top of this brace, at each side thereof, a link, G, is pivoted by a pin, 01,

passing through the links and brace. The other ends of these links embrace a downward-projecting lug, e, on the seat-bracket, to which they are pivoted by the pin f passing through them. "When the seat is raised these links draw in the braces close to the standard, as shown in Fig. 1, and when lowered they throw out the braces to an angle of about forty-five degrees before the brackets come into contact with their upper ends, which are beveled off to give the former a firm base to rest upon. In order to prevent the noise which would result from the brackets coming in contact with the braces, metal to metal, I provide the former with elastic cushions, in the following manner: At the point of contact I cast the brackets with an enlargement, g, which 1 core out, to have a conical opening, broadest at the top, and before the seat is secured to the brackets I insert therein the conical rubber cushions H, whichl make long enough to project be low the bracket, and secure them by screwing down the seat or seat-slats to the brackets over them. Their form prevents their being drawn out, while they effectually dcaden the noise, no matter how heavily the seat may be dropped upon its supports. The peculiar conformation of the seat-supports, and their arrangement with relation to the standards, is such as to secure the greatest strength consistent with a given weight of metal, while their simplicity and effective op eration will be conceded on reference to the drawing.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a school-seat and desk, the construction and arrangement of the braces F and links G with relation to the brackets l) and standards A, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The arrangement of the rubber cushions II in the brackets D with relation to the braces F, as described, for the purpose specified.

ALRIOK M. BODWVELL.

Witnesses:

J. Q. A. SEssIoNs, W. A. WHEELER. 

